An analysis of the factors associated with successful re-entry of blood donors

Abstract

Background: In China, all donors with a reactive result for transmissible diseases including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Treponema pallidum (TP) are deferred from donating blood. For the deferred population, re-entry guidelines have been established by The Chinese Society of Blood Transfusion. However, not all deferred blood donors become eligible to donate blood again. In order to enable more deferred blood donors to participate in blood donation again, we analyzed the factors associated with successful re-entry and donation for deferred blood donors. Methods: Between January 2017 and December 2019, information including age, sex, occupation, educational level, donor status (first or repeat), reactive items, blood type, time interval and repeated donation of re-entered blood donors were collected from the Chongqing Blood Center. The impact of each factor on the success of donor re-entry was evaluated by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Factors associated with an increased success rate of re-entry for deferred donors include occupation, time interval, reactive items and donor status. Factors affecting the decision of whether reentered donors choose to donate blood again include donor status, reactive items and time interval. Conclusions: In order to achieve the maximum retention possible, blood centers should recruit the blood donors who have the highest chance of re-entering the blood donation programme, as well as those with the highest chance of donating again after re-entry.